Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10615, Roger Edgecomb, Conn. Continental Navy

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
born
Edgcomb, Roger
S. 10615
continental
Navy
barded
CONTENTS

Letters to T. Reeve jr. & P. G. Dec. 27. 1836 —
N o 11965
Pennsylvania
Noyer Edgecomb
of Potter Co, in the State of Penn a who was a Pr. Seaman in the Company comm d by Captain Huntington of the N. Y. H. command by Col. Durkee in the Cont t Troops time for 3 months Seaman $12 00 21 " Private 70.00 $82.00
Inserted on the Roll of Pennsylvania: at the rate of 82 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16. day of March 1833 and sent to Pensioner Coudersport Pa
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 164.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833 41.00 $205.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book E. Vol. 5 Page 17
★ Army, Continental, and Navy. Records completed Apr. 17, 1838.

State of Pennsylvania at Beard County Pa.
In this first day of October A.D. 1832 personally appeared before the board of common pleas of the County of Lebanon to which the County of Berks is attached by law Roger Edgcomb, a resident of Berks County in the County of Berks aforesaid and State of Pennsylvania aged twenty five years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. That on the 8th. day of May 1775, he enlisted as a soldier in a Company commanded by Lieutenant Joshua Huntington and Ensign Bingham in a Regiment commanded by Col. C. Clancy and Lieut. Col. John Shunk and in General Israel Putnam's Brigade or Division; and served as a soldier in said Company and Regiment till some time in the month of January 1776, and was with General Putnam at the battle of Bunker Hill and was discharged at Cambridge in the State of Massachusetts. And this deponent further saith that some time in the month of May 1776 he enlisted as a soldier at Norwich Connecticut in a Company of New Jersey commanded by Capt. Nathan Huntington in Col. Helling's Regiment, and served until the first day of January 1777 and was discharged at Cobleskill Ulster State of New York. And this deponent further saith that on or about the first day of February 1777 he entered on board of the United States ship Warren of twenty eight guns then lying at Providence Rhode Island commanded by John B. Hopkins Esq. and remained on board of said ship until the British fleet then lying at Rhode Island was driven in and that ship was burnt there and was honorably discharged therefrom in the port of Boston. And this deponent further saith that on or about the first day of May 1778 he enlisted in a Company commanded by Capt. Robert Williams in Col. Shunk's Berks Regiment, and served as a soldier in said Company until the first day of January 1779. He was at the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, and was discharged at Reading in Connecticut. And at the expiration of each period of service he received regular and honorable discharge. But not apprehending that they would ever be of any service to him, he did not preserve them, and that during the several periods above specified he served in the Continental line against the common enemy.
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State.
Roger Edgcomb
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Richard Chadwick Sheriff of Berks Co.
True Copy.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the within named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served in the State.
Los Altos { Associate Judges Paul Bishop
St. Helena County S.C.
I Richard Charlton, Brotherhood (or Club) of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby Cer- tify that the foregoing contains the original provisions of the said Court in the matter of the appointment of Roger Edgcomb Esq. as receiver.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of official authority the first day of October 1882.
W. Chadwick Potts
...hands at the departure of my Regiment at Newbury to New Bedford after being ordered to New Bedford by the Governor being the work for the defense of the State that after enter- ing into place at New Bedford I was in Col. Kent's Regiment until July 1778 he remained at home till the beginning of June 1778, till the Company was filled up. I was then marched immediately from New Bedford State of Con- necticut to Freshkill where I took the road to Staten Island near which we found the enemy a short time previous to the Battle of Brandywine after the Battle of Brandywine we marched into Pennsylvania crossing the Schuylkill and crossed the Hudson at Kings Ferry thence to White Plains, where we remained about two weeks after which we were sent on a detachment on to the bridge under the command of Col. Vose, Col. Bullen, Lieut. Col. Thomas and Major G. L. G. and in December 1778 we again joined Col. Loring's Regiment and marched to Reading Connecticut and were discharged on or about the first day of January 1779. With respect to the other points of service stated in the form my declaration I am too old and infirm to travel so great a distance in order to obtain the necessary proof, and must therefore omit any thing fur- ther on those points. - And I hereby certify that when I applied in 1818, the

Secretary of War found the returns of Col. Kellogg's Regiment in the War Department, and that by those returns my period of service appeared to have been the monthly. But as I did not serve there monthly during any one enlistment I did not come within the provisions of the Act.
Roger Edgecomb
Sworn and subscribed before me the 27th day of May, 1833. and to which I have hereunto set my hand and official seal.
Asa Southwell Clerk
We the undersigned hereby certify that we have for a number of years been personally acquainted with Roger Edgecomb the above applicant and that we believe him to be a man of the strictest propriety and full worth to be trusted in all his dealings so far as his honorable and real estate is concerned.
Isaac D. [unintelligible] Abel Bishop James Taylor Associate Justices Middlesex County

23536
Roger Edgcomb Potter county, Pennsylvania
Adm C
  3 mo's Seaman  12. 00    21 " private  70. -     82, -  
Appalachian Lumberport Pa.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Roger Rodney and Potter Co.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Boston 1775 5 Genl. Huntington Col. Hovey Lt. Col. Dinsmore 73 Wormwood   1776 2 Capt. Huntington Col. Hovey   1778 3 Capt. Hovey   1779 5 Capt. Hovey Col. Dinsmore   1780 31  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I, _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____, who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape, or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[t] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
The applicant's name is on the rolls of Gookins regiment in '76, as there are no records in the Department of the other regiments he should procure some proof of his service elsewhere.

{ Revolutionary Alarm }
Handwritten text in the top right corner.
Mr. Garrison Secretary of War Washington City D.C.
De 20

Kirwan
10615
INVALID.
File No. 10615
Keyser Elizabeth Washington B.C.
Act: June 15th 1852.
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 110
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Dec 14 Roger Edgeworth P.O. Box 1112
Mr
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City
D C

Phila a Dec r 12 th 1836
Dear Sir
Inclosed you have certificates for an attorney &c of Roger Pidgeon for twelve months pension due him 4 th day of September last. The enclosed have been presented to the agent at the Guard Bank and declined payment, and advised me forward the same to you for your approval. Will you have the goodness to to give the enclosed your early attention and return the papers to me with your decision. I have no doubt my self of the correctness, knowing some of the parties who are highly respectable
Yours very respectfully
Thos. W. Higginson
The Commissioners of Pensions Washington City